Prince Harry and Meghan have met survivors of the Bondi beach terror attack as they wind up their Australian tour.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are wrapping up their trip on Friday, making the most of the autumn sun with a Sydney Harbour boat ride alongside Invictus Australia representatives, before attending a Super Rugby Pacific match.
But they started their time in Sydney at Bondi, where 15 people were killed in the 14 December terror attack.
They met emergency workers who responded to the attack, as well as representatives of the Sydney Jewish Museum, which is opening an exhibition on the massacre.
After arriving at the Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club on Friday morning, the couple spoke to Jessica Chapnik Khan, who survived the attack while shielding her five-year-old daughter after attending a Hanukkah party.
They also spoke to Elon Zizer, 40, who survived after being shot numerous times while shielding his children.
The couple met Shannon Biederman, the museum’s senior curator, who said it was “really special” to have them visit.
Harry and Meghan have been all smiles throughout their four-day visit, making many public appearances and posing for selfies during their commitments in Melbourne.
Courtney Higlett and her son Zaya said they shared a special moment with the couple on Thursday.
“A lot’s gone on with Harry and Meghan, and we choose to ignore it and just look up to them as role models for what they do,” Higlett said.
Fans in Sydney are expected to have more chances to catch a glimpse of Harry and Meghan, with the pair set to be on full display during their harbour boat ride.
Private ticket holders will also get up close with Meghan when she delivers a speech on Friday night as the headline guest at an exclusive Sydney retreat, where tickets start at $2,699.
Those paying $3,199 for the VIP experience will receive a group table photo with Meghan, along with gift bags and a premium hotel room.
No longer working royals following their much-publicised split with Buckingham Palace, Harry and Meghan are visiting in a private capacity.
Rather than open meet-and-greets with members of the public, the pair have opted to stick to managed private environments during their tour.
Harry delivered his own keynote speech at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne on Thursday, where he shared feeling “lost, betrayed or completely powerless” at times in his life.
During a conversation with former federal politician Brendan Nelson, Harry recalled a moment in the days following the death in 1997 of his mother, Princess Diana, when he felt unable to move forward with public life.
“After my mum died just before my 13th birthday, I was like: ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role – wherever this is headed, I don’t like it’,” he said.
The duke also used the speech to reflect on a time when he lacked the tools to recognise his own mental health struggles.
“There have been many times when I’ve felt overwhelmed,” he told the large crowd.
Guests paid about $1,000 to $2,400 for a ticket to the InterEdge Summit, although media reports suggest that Harry was not paid a fee for his speech.
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